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The voice of the student body Hackley School, Tarrytown, NY 10591
Winter Activities
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Hilltop Happenings Wellness Center set to open on January 8th in time for Sting
Photo by Roya Arjomand The Walter C. Johnson Center for Health and Wellness is opening on the first day back from break, January 8th, with a schoolwide inaugural ceremony.
Photo by Bailey Griffen When the current kindergarten class will graduate in 2030, they will face challenges different challenges in rapidly changing world. With changes coming with the new Strategic Planning Initiative, Headmaster Michael Wirtz is asking “What are [current kindergarteners] going to need from Hackley so that they are successful upon graduation?”
Seniors surprise Mr. Loomis
Strategic Planning Initiative promises changes to come For the first time since 2005, the administration looks to review the academic environment our community fosters. By Matt Traum
who came before me to think about On January 8th, as the construc- what the next three to five years will tion of Walter C. Johnson Center look like.” for Health and Wellness ends, Hackley hired consulting firm Ian Hackley begins to ask what changes Simmons and Associates (ISA) to come next. On this day the Hackley help facilitate this process. ISA has administration plans to send out a done strategic planning with hunsurvey, one of the first major steps dreds of independent schools and in the current strategic planning private universities. Because ISA is initiative. a modest-sized firm, the principal of Strategic planning is a focusing the firm, Ian Simmons himself, will exercise in which schools write up a be directly involved in the strategic plan describing goals going forward. planning process, and he is visitHackley last did this formally in ing the Hilltop on January 24th. 1999, and updated Another aspect of that plan 2005. “Although we’re going to this firm that was The 2005 update graduate the class of 2018 appealing to the included calls for in just a few months, the administration changes to the curwas its inclusivity. riculum as well as class of 2030 is in kinder- Many firms only additions and up- garten right now. What are use a steering comdates to the athlet- they going to need from mittee to oversee ic facilities, includ- Hackley so that they are the whole process, ing adding more successful upon gradua- but ISA also uses squash courts and surveys, and varia new swimming tion?” ous focus groups pool. Many of the which allows more changes advocated members of the for have been achieved; spanish has Hackley community to be involved been added to the lower school and in the process. extended athletic facilities were built Hackley’s steering committee with the new wellness center. will oversee the strategic planning With many of the changes from process and will utilize the research the previous plans enacted, Head of compiled and the guidance provided School Michael Wirtz said, “Every by ISA. The steering committee is so often it is necessary to do this. responsible for the creation of a Now, we have this moment based on formal plan. It is comprised of a the foundation built by the people diverse group of parents, alumni,
trustees, faculty, administrators, and students. Mr. Wirtz said, “We wanted to get a group that was both helpful in the work that it can do and represented the different constituencies of the school at the same time.” Junior Valentina Castro was selected to be one of two student members of the Hackley Steering Committee. She feels it is essential to always strive for improvements in order to remain a strong independent school. As a student, she hopes to help make sure any changes are well received as well as provide a young perspective to the committee. Fellow student steering committee member junior Will Goldsmith concurred and said, “Students have first hand knowledge of the intricacies of Hackley community. Students’ knowledge of the academic, athletic, theatrical, musical, and social aspects of Hackley make them well-equipped to honestly critique the school.” The strategic planning will proceed throughout 2018, striving to create a plan of three to four targeted initiatives that is ready to be presented to the community next fall. Mr. Wirtz emphasized, “We want to keep true to our values and the culture of our school, and to make sure that our educational program is, is refined, optimized, and developed.”
Photo courtesy of Spencer Diaz The senior History of Media elective threw sophomore dean and media teacher Chris Loomis a suprise party following his senior Chapel Talk. The senior class joined in the celebration to show their gratitude for him.
Junior Kyle Spencer organizes holiday raffle for Flik and B&G By Lei Anne Rabeje
With the holidays just around the corner, junior Kyle Spencer is finding new ways to show his gratitude for the Hackley community. Before Thanksgiving, the junior class was tasked with writing thank-you cards to Flik and B&G staff, which inspired Kyle to extend his gratitude. “I feel like we can do more for them because they’re really underappreciated at Hackley,” said Kyle. With help from the junior class and dean Melissa Stanek, Kyle hosted a fundraiser to raise money for gifts.
Board of Magistrates members host first schoolwide meeting
Photo by Sofia Graziano Senior Homer Gere answers a student question about his role on the Board of Magistrates during a school wide meeting at the PAC. This was the first meeting the revamped Board organized, and it focused on respect. Read more on hsdial.org
2 opinion
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December 22, 2017
Dial
A word from a senior: to post or not to post? By Georgia Panitz
After weeks of anticipation, high school seniors who applied Early Decision or Early Action are nervously, excitedly, and patiently receiving decisions from colleges. A majority of these decisions are typically sent out in the month of December, resulting in a range of emotions. For those who are denied or deferred from their top school or schools, this can be an incredibly difficult time. Those who receive positive news will be excited for a number of reasons, such as the end of a long college process and excitement for the future. In this excitement, students understandably want to share their good news with family, friends, and teachers who have helped them through the process. In this euphoria some seniors take to various social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram to share their news. However, in posting, students are doing more harm than good. The desire to share good news is natural. A study done by The New York Times on “social sharing” shows that informing others of your own good fortune not only boosts happiness, but helps you connect with others, increases self fulfillment, expresses your personality, and even entertains others. While we may not be sharing with one of these specific purposes in mind, they do contribute to our urge to share. It makes sense why seniors want to share the positive news of their college decision – especially with those who have supported them throughout the process and have enabled them to succeed. The issue is less about whether or not seniors should share their news, but rather how. Seniors by all means should share with family, friends, and teachers, but they should consider the means by which they do so. Outside of social media, and the hundreds of followers many people have on various platforms, seniors will most likely be sharing their good news with those whom they feel
the
Illustration by Lei Anne Rabeje
close to. They will be sharing with close friends and teachers at school, at home with family, and by personal phone calls or text messages with loved ones. By posting on social media, seniors are not only reaching the group of people who are already informed, and those the individual feels should know, but a large group outside of their “important circle.” Outside of this circle are people who do not necessarily “need” to know – if they did, the individual would have informed them. When posting college decisions, seniors also do not know the circumstances their social media followers are in. The possibility of harming others in posting college acceptances far outweigh the positive results of sharing via social media. By sharing a college decision, especially with a following which most likely consists of many seniors, students fail to act empathetically. As harsh as this may sound, quite simply, many seniors do not get into the college(s) of their choice. For those who are not admitted, handling this news is incredibly difficult. For those who may have received bad news from the same college as an “acceptance sharer,” or even different colleges, it can be challenging
to see these social media posts. They dreamed of the same result and are experiencing a type of mourning. It is important for seniors to respect their peers in one of the most difficult parts of the college process. A large collection of acceptance posts sprawled across social media platforms can also contribute to students’ anxiety who have either received bad news or haven’t applied yet, and are planning on sending regular decision applications. The manner in which decisions and acceptances are posted, and the reactions they receive, can also perpetuate harmful ideas which promote the importance of “highly selective” schools. Placing value behind people’s acceptance to a “selective” school often happens on social media. This draws away from the most important aspect of the whole college process – finding a school which is the best fit for an individual regardless of its supposed reputation. Hackley college counselor Peter Latson, in speaking for the department, stated that, “we [College Counseling] are not saying you can’t or shouldn’t post the college you’re going to attend on social media...we simply think it
is worth considering how you act online and how that may affect your friends and community in this particularly stressful time.” In a meeting with seniors in November, the college counselors shared this view and asked seniors to act both cautiously and kindly when considering how to share their news. During students’ junior and senior years, the college counselors give advice regarding sensitive and personal topics such as test scores and the likelihood of acceptance to schools. The college counselors have suggested to seniors that these topics are best not to be discussed, as there are more interesting things to talk about. However, if it is discussed students should use respect and caution. Students should apply these same values when dealing with college decisions and the internet. Mr. Latson said that from College Counseling’s point of view, “the Internet is simply an electronic extension of the hallway, if you will. It is not as much a matter of “whether” you post, but ‘what’ you post and ‘how’... it is about important nuances of communication and community.” Seniors should avoid posting college decisions, especially this time of year. Many people’s futures are in limbo and it is important to consider the fact that by posting about a college acceptance you will most likely harm others in the process. While posting EA and ED acceptances is very popular, and tempting, it does not necessarily mean it is the best course of action. If you are looking to possibly network and seek other members of your incoming college freshman class, it is best to join facebook groups or even discreetly set instagram bios to reflect your choice in the spring once all students have received decisions. Engaging in college decision posting can negatively impact our community, and friends. It goes against Hackley’s values which encourage students to act empathetic towards others. Before you press post, think about why you are posting and how it may affect others.
Dial staff
Hackley School 293 Benedict Ave.Tarrytown, NY (914) 631-0128 December 22, 2017 Vol. 120, No. 4 hsdial.org Editors-in-Chief Online Editor Technical Editor
Lei Anne Rabeje, Olivia Weinberg Alexi Sandhu Sydney Stoller Cosima Boettner
Section Editors
News Bailey Griffen, Matt Traum Opinion Bridget Barsanti, William Goldsmith Arts Georgia Panitz, Dylan Wade Feature Pat Walker, Lauren Ahern Lifestyles Amy Chalan, Natalie Sukhman Politics Raghav Chopra, Max Rosenblum Science & Tech Cory Gorczycki, Alexa Augustine Sports LiliAnna Khosrowshahi, Cole Wyman Advisers Michael Bass, Anne Budlong
Policy Opinions expressed in staff editorials reflect the majority view of The Dial Editorial Board. Opinions expressed in signed articles are those of the author and do not represent the views of Hackley School, its administration or its staff. The Dial invites and encourages its readers to write letters to the editor or submit contributions. Contact us at dial@hackleyschool.org. We reserve the right to edit any submission for clarity and brevity, and to correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation when necessary. We refuse to publish submissions which are unsigned, libelous, or plagiarized. Four hundred copies of each issue are distributed among the High School student body of about four hundred students and the faculty and staff.
By The Editorial Board
On the Hilltop deadlines have become a central issue for students in the midst of essays and papers. The traditional 12 a.m. deadline, which was previously instituted by Hackley, has been repealed this year. The Dial Editorial Board believes that while the move has its supporters and critics, the change is effective in its one main mission: preventing students from staying up late in order to finish assignments. Twelve a.m. deadlines force students to work all night on assignments, which is especially unfair due to the arduous days of school that studentsmust cope with. Hackley students do enough during the day and should not have to stay up late stressing about papers and essays. Even though opposing concerns about how effective the change will be are valid, progress is undeniably being made and Hackley is moving in the right direction regarding the issue of deadlines. Consequently, many teachers are moving from 12 a.m. deadlines to 8:05 a.m. and 3:05 p.m. ones. Tenth Grade dean and history teacher Chris Loomis cites his change to the 8:05 a.m. and 3:05 p.m. deadlines for one reason: to ensure that their students get some sleep. “I used to be a big fan of midnight deadlines because I thought I was doing students a favor by giving them more time to complete their work,
but I’ve come around to the belief that many of our students are already stressed out after putting in long hours, and I don’t want to be a part of reinforcing expectations that they should be up all night,” said Loomis. Upper School English Teacher James Flanigan, concurs. He used to give 12 a.m. deadlines at his old workplace. However, after he came to Hackley, he made the switch to 8:05 p.m. and 3:05 p.m. deadlines, stating that “oftentimes, students stay up too late doing their work.” These ideas are a serious matter. After all, the CDC concluded that insufficient sleep is a public health problem. Indeed, a study by CNN has linked poor slumber with high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, weight gain, a lack of libido, mood swings, paranoia, anxiety depression. Additionally, a lack of sleep may be directly correlated to serious long-term issues including a higher risk of diabetes, stroke, cardiovascular disease, dementia and some cancers. Twelve a.m. deadlines simply exacerbate the cyclical deprivation of sleep that Hackley students often experience, making other deadlines much more appealing. Allowing students to submit assignments at 8:05 a.m. and 3:05 p.m. gives students a chance to get some shuteye, and provides students the opportunity to be refreshed for the following days. On the whole, Hackley’s faculty seems to be on the same page that 12 a.m. deadlines are not the way to go.
There are mixed reviews from students about the change toward 8:05 a.m. and 3:05 p.m.. Seniors Ijeoma Nwokorie and Chad Lasseter believe that the change will not do any good in the long run. Regarding 3:05 p.m. deadlines, Ijeoma explained, “if a student doesn’t have frees during the day, [the assignment] is pretty much due the day before”. Additionally, Chad states, “now, instead of kids staying up until 12 to finish papers the night before, they are just staying up later to finish them.” However, senior Ellie Arnold disagrees, stating, “I prefer 3:05 p.m. deadlines because if [an assignment] is due at midnight, then I feel obligated to do it the day that it’s due, whereas if it is due at 3:05 I feel like I can submit it the day before.” While all of these comments are legitimate, 12 a.m. deadlines are the culprit for increased stress and a lack of sleep. At the end of the day, students have empirically stayed up later to finish assignments when they are pressured by a 12 a.m. deadline. Now that the deadline has been repealed, they have a chance to check their work in the morning and even work on assignments during the day. While the progressive move to other deadlines may seem small, its implications on the Hackley student body are great. Illustration by Olivia Weinberg
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Dial
December 22, 2017
science & technology 3
Will Crainer hops into the Independent Research Program By Yingshyan Ku
W
hile many students may feel that frogs are trivial and uninteresting creatures, this is not the case for junior Will Crainer, a member of the Independent Research Program at Hackley. The Independent Research Program, first established in 2015, provides students with the opportunity to pursue a scientific research topic in a genuine setting. The three-year program is intended to give students first-hand experience in a lab environment and engage in research. Students in the program typically spend six to eight weeks over the summer in a lab conducting research with a mentor. Will is currently researching frogs, and how they are impacted by anthropogenic effects. For his current project, he is looking at the microbial communities of frogs and tadpoles, observing how they change through the life stages, and how their environment affects their microbiome. Will said, “Last summer I worked with a postgraduate student from Virginia Tech who I met through a program at the Mianus River Gorge. We spent about 100 hours collecting frogs and tadpoles and measuring them, weighing them, and swabbing them for their
Photo courtesy of Will Crainer Will’s work in Teatown gives him many opportunities to create projects regarding his studies of frogs. He presented his poster on the effects of Japanese stilt grass on the population of North American frogs at a science competition.
microbial community...we will repeat this process this summer. This is all in an effort to learn more about how microbes move through the the environment and through
the stages of life.” Starting from a young age, Will has been fascinated by frogs and even caught them in his backyard. He participated in a program at
App of the Month: GiftPlanner
Jasmine Bayrooti and her robots travel the world to compete in soccer matches
By Tommy Larson
By Alexa Augustine
If you are having trouble keeping track of all your different gifts and events, GiftPlanner may be the answer for you. It lets you keep all of your holiday information in one convenient app, including gifts and ideas, stores, prices, purchase statuses, order and tracking numbers, photos, and links. At first glance it is a little complicated to use, however after spending some time exploring the different functionalities, it becomes really useful and easy to utilise. GiftPlanner is the ideal way to plan for special occasions that come up throughout the year such as holidays like Valentine’s Day or Easter. It even comes with a built in calendar. It is also a great way of letting your loved ones know that you’ve put some forethought into buying their gifts rather than rushing them at the last minute. GiftPlanner is free to download on the App Store. However, once downloaded, you can upgrade to GiftPlanner plus which allows you to sync data between devices and utilize 50 beautiful new event icons for only $1.99. After downloading this app, you will never have to worry about forgetting a gift for one of your loved ones again. With the holidays coming up, if you are having trouble sorting through the many wants and wishes of your friends and family, GiftPlanner is the perfect app for you.
Going to robotics meetings, reconstructing robots, planning programs, and attending competitions are all part of a day in the life of Jasmine Bayrooti. Jasmine spends countless hours practicing for robotics competitions with her team, all while dealing with the pressures that come with being a senior. Jasmine’s passion for robotics has grown since she was in middle school, and has continued to flourish in her senior year. She is the captain of the United State’s World Robot Olympiad team, where she has participated in competitions across the globe
Graphic by Samantha Rosenstein
in building autonomous robots that can play soccer. She is also the captain of a Robotics Cup Jr. team. The World Robotics Olympiad is where teams compete to create two autonomous robots out of legos in under two hours. For the Robotics Cup Jr. competitions, depending on the specific rules at the time, the robots can be made out of any material so long as they are within the specific height and weight requirements. Both competitions test the robots’ ability to play soccer, as each team’s robots will be pitted against another team’s in a soccer game. The team who scores the most points wins. From her first competition in
Photo courtesy of Jasmine Bayrooti This year, the Rockin’ Robots used Arduino hardware and software and carbon fiber plates to create their robots. They are also working on adding a solenoid kicker, which would allow their robots to kick the ball into the goal instead of needing to push it in.
Teatown Lake Reservation called the Teatown Environmental Science Academy (TESA) where he looked at how invasive grasses affected the native frog populations. Since these grasses were brought by humans, this led him to articles based on looking at the effects of anthropogenic impacts in amphibians. Now, he has an internship at the Mianus River Gorge where he is working on the experiment with comparing cutaneous microbiomes. “This entire process was very interesting to me because I learned about field collection and how hard it can be without real control over many factors. I learned a lot about the field in general and the processes which go into actually being able to conduct an experiment,” said Will. “I also learned how to read a paper and some good communication skills as it can often be hard to communicate with my mentor who is so far away (our only options for communication are email and Skype).” Through his research, Will intends to gain a better understanding of how microbes move through the environment and the life stages of frogs. He hopes that his research can help in bioaugmentation efforts and slow or stop the effects and virulence of chytridiomycosis.
Photo courtesy of Jasmine Bayrooti Robo Cup Jr. competitions add small changes to what features or devices are allowed on the robots. Improvements in programming accumulate over the years while Jasmine’s team adjusts their robots’ hardware to accomodate those rule changes.
2014 to Sochi Russia, to her most recent competition in 2016 to New Delhi, India, the W.R.O. has given Jasmine many opportunities to travel around the globe. This year’s competition takes place in Costa Rica. There are multiple open Robo Cup Jr. competitions that happen around the world. Jasmine’s team was invited to compete in a competition in Thailand and is also considering going to a competition in Germany in April. In order to prepare for the W.R.O, Jasmine’s team memorizes how to construct their robots in under two hours through practice and repetition. The team has a period of time called “crunch time”, where they practice building their robot every night for a few hours. “ We have our robots built throughout the season and then we just disassemble them and practice rebuilding them a number of times until we get it under two hours. That’s my least favorite part of the competition, it’s a little tedious,” Jasmine explained. In her latest competition with her W.R.O. team, her team placed top 8 out of over 70 teams. Preparation for the Robo Cup Jr. competitions is more extensive. Jasmine explained, “Robo Cup Jr. is definitely harder because you can use whatever materials you want, so
we start working on that 8 months in advance every year. There’s really just a lot more flexibility so we research the parts, we try to improve them every year.” Jasmine has many responsibilities as captain, but “mainly make[s] sure that everyone is doing their duties because we have a number of different roles...My personal interest is in the software side so I tend to work on the programming,” she said. Being captain of two robotics teams takes up a lot of time and energy and Jasmine tries to balance her responsibilities to her teams with her work as a senior. “Robotics are definitely my favorite extracurricular activity and I really try to make time to do it. I’d much rather be working on my robots than college applications. When my team comes over I’m always there for the meetings and everything.” Jasmine plans on following her interest in programming into college. “As far as college is concerned I think I’d like to double major in math and computer science. I’ve always preferred the computer science portion of robotics. But the hardware is interesting and I like applying what I learn in math and computer science to actual robots because it’s neat to see how you can use it and you see it working and it’s great.”
4 lifestyles
the
December 22, 2017
The Dial’s guide to buying holiday gifts
Dial
By Annabel Ives and Dylan Wade
For your friends:
Photo by Amy Chalan One of the main attractions at Kensico’s Winter Wonderland is the lights display.
5 Local Winter
activities to try By Amy Chalan
As winter arrives, there’s no better area than Westchester to enjoy the season. There are plenty of affordable activities from outdoor fairs to ice skating within a 15 minute drive from Hackley. Whether you’re looking for a cool place to visit after school or an all day activity, these activities are sure to be a blast.
What is everyone’s holiday wish? To receive a life-size teddy bear from their best friend. A variety of colors are sold on Amazon, most in ranging from $30-$40. Whether they use it as decoration or keep it on their bed, your friend will love this gift. Another cute, affordable and useful gift for your friend is a Swell water bottle. Priced at $25, these bottles have many design options including a custom design option. A Fujifilm Instax Mini Camera is a great way to capture your memories, and have them last a lifetime. The photos instantly print after taking the photos. The camera is available at Target, Urban Outfitters, on the Fujifilm website, and on Amazon. The price ranges from $40 - $100, depending on the store. Finally, a Crosley Cruiser Record Player makes for an entertaining gift for your music-loving friends. The record player is priced at $64.99 on Amazon and $99 on Urban Outfitters. Pick out some of your friend’s favorite holiday albums on vinyl to top off the perfect present. Illustrations by Dylan Wade and Annabel Ives
For your teachers:
Visit a fair
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The perfect gift for a teacher is simple, yet expresses your gratitude towards them. Try making them a portable hotchocolate mix! Stop at a craft store to pick up a mason jar, and get some instant hot chocolate mix and mini marshmallows from any grocery store. Fill up the jar with the two ingredients. Top it off with a holiday colored ribbon, and you have a tasty treat that is easy to make for any teacher. With busy mornings, teachers often need caffeine to start their day. The Contigo Travel Mugs are spill proof, stainless steel, and make a simple and sweet gift. These inexpensive mugs are sold online, in a variety of styles and colors. The insulated mug will keep drinks hot during the dead of winter, and cold during the summertime. You can also pick up a useful gift card to Starbucks or another local coffee shop. You can get them for any amount you want and every teacher is sure to love and appreciate this gift.
Westchester’s Winter Wonderland at the Kensico Dam Plaza is a holiday-themed fair open until the end of December. With a $15 admission, this Best of Westchester Award Winner features a circus, an opportunity to meet Santa, ice skating, rides, and a musical light show. The Winter Wonderland Holiday Circus has evening showtimes everyday of the week. Open most evenings from 5-9 or 10 PM until the 31st of December, this Winter Wonderland is an excellent place to visit this winter.
Go ice skating
The Westchester Skating Academy is located 10 minutes from Hackley in Elmsford ,NY. The indoor skating rink offers private skating lessons and holds public skating sessions daily. Every Friday night, the rink has a live DJ and light show from 7:30 to 10 PM. With an admission of $11 or $15.50 including skate rental, as well as holiday themed discounts throughout the winter season, this is a great place to try something new!
Go sledding
If you’re looking for an outdoors activity to enjoy the cold weather, Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow are home to great sledding locations. Popular locations for sledding are Phelps Memorial Hospital, and the Sleepy Hollow Public School hill, after hours.
Explore nearby parks
Rockefeller State Park Preserve in Sleepy Hollow offers sledding, hiking, and cross country skiing trails throughout the winter. One of the best trails to take is the Pocantico River Trail, a 1.9 mile hike along the river with a view of the Hudson Valley. This preserve is a perfect place to visit for a quick hike or for a fun day in the snow.
Try tasty food on Main Street
Tarrytown also offers great restaurants and cafes to stop by for hot chocolate and other winter treats. You can visit Main Street in Tarrytown, a 5 minute drive from Hackley, and find a variety of food options. If you’re looking for hot chocolate, the Dial reviewed local restaurant’s winter treats and drinks last winter, which can be found online.
Illustrations by Natalie Sukhman and Amy Chalan
For your family: The Amazon Echo and Echo Dot allow you to use voice control to play music, send and receive messages, make calls, set alarms, read Ebooks, control smart home devices, and more, all without moving a muscle. The Echo is priced at $99.99, while the Dot is priced at $49.99. These devices can be used anywhere and for anything, from a timer in the kitchen or an alarm clock in the bedroom to a hands-free way to control the garage. Any member of your family will find the devices useful, and be ecstatic when they unwrap these perfect additions to any household! With the stress of the holidays, your family members will love to relax with a homemade spa kit. Pick up a large basket or bag that you can customize with ribbons and other festive decorations. Then fill it up with slippers, face masks, a bathrobe, and any other spa related items. Everything can be purchased at Target or similar local stores.
“Hey,
Alexa!”
Illustrations by Emmy Wenstrup and Jordan Miller
Holiday movies to watch over winter break By James Sexton-Holtemeir
This winter break should be a time to kick back, relax, and watch A few of your favorite holiday movies, or to try out a few you have never seen before. If you are looking for a laugh with your friends and family, “Home Alone” is the perfect movie. “Home Alone”’s main character Kevin Mccallister is funny and relatable. Throughout the movie, he is always getting himself into trouble while keeping a great holiday spirit. “Home Alone” is a great movie for any and all ages, making it great option to watch with your friends or younger siblings. Another popular holiday comedy is “How The Grinch Stole Christmas”. This movie will have you in tears of both joy and laughter. Jim Carrey plays the Grinch, and does an amazing job of making the movie slightly ridiculous, but not at all childish. The surprise ending will likely have you wishing the Christmas season would never end. If you are looking for more of a serious and heartwarming movie to watch with your family, “It’s a Wonderful Life” would be a safe choice. “It’s a Wonderful Life” was written in 1946, but is in no way outdated. Although the movie is over two
Photo by Amy Chalan Watching these movies on YouTube or iTunes is a great way to spend a free period and get into the holiday spirit.
hours it will have you entertained for every second. The main character George Bailey goes through a midlife crisis, and turns to the help of his loved ones. The movie does a very good job
of embodying the Christmas spirit and showing what a close community can do for each other. The last, must watch holiday movie is “Elf ”. Will Ferrell stars as Buddy the Elf, and brings his usual hilarity to this delightful holiday film, where Buddy, an abnormal elf, travels all the way to New York City to find his real father. This movie should be at the top of everybody’s list, in part due to its lighthearted nature while simultaneously projecting family morals. Not only does it provide a much needed comic relief, but it also finds a way into the heart of the viewer. There are numerous powerful scenes that will make you step back and think about the true meaning of the holidays. Overall, I think that “Elf ” and “Home Alone” are my two favorite holiday movies. I think that they both do an amazing job of keeping the viewer entertained and interesting. In my opinion, the comedy that those two films bring to the table make them slightly better than the rest. This being said, I still believe that all of the movies above are fantastic, and anybody would enjoy them. The best part about all of these movies is that they are a great way to spend quality time with your family and friends, while getting into the holiday spirit.
the
Dial
arts 5
December 22, 2017
Exposing the artistic process through the use of white space
Delia Tager creates dynamic portraits utilizing unusual painting techniques and redefines the meaning of finished art.
Photo courtesy of Delia Tager Delia uses acrylics, white space, and paint drips to redefine the meaning of finished artwork. The fractured paintings allow her audience to think of the missing pieces, while connecting those present with painting drips.
By Jordan Miller
D
edicating fifteen hours to each piece, Senior and AP artist Delia Tager is in the process of creating a collection based on a unique take on portraits through making part of the painting hyper realistic and leaving part of it unfinished. Delia’s focus is unfinished portraits using a medium of acrylic on canvas, “I wanted to be able to do something a picture can’t do, and by leaving certain aspects of the painting incomplete I can make a better statement. Having both
this hyperrealistic, well-rendered portrait, with the loose drips and brushstrokes of a painting, adds more elements to [the work] and makes it more interesting.” AP art students are tasked with creating a profile of 24 works. Half of these are “breadth” pieces while the other half are individual “concentration” pieces. AP students prepare for their portfolio beginning in eleventh grade. Class time is spent on the breadth portfolio with works ranging from still lifes to abstracts. Concentration pieces are assigned
for homework during their senior year with periodic deadlines, and at the end of the year students submit their profile to the College Board for review. Delia feels that the white space she utilizes adds a unique dimension to her pieces, “leaving paintings unfinished can be seen as lazy but I think it adds something cool. It makes the artist very vulnerable because you can see their process underneath the painting.” Delia draws inspiration for her work from artists on Instagram and Facebook. “Artists I follow will post progress photos of their paintings… I’ve always found that the paintings that were incomplete were almost more beautiful than the completed ones,” said Delia. Some of the artists she follows on Instagram that inspired her work are Elly Smallwood (@ellysmallwood) and Andrew Salgado (@andrew.salgado.artist). One of the difficulties that comes with the AP art program is lack of time. Students have limited time to create detailed and carefully crafted work. One painting is typically due every two weeks. Reflecting on this Delia said, “One of the reasons why the paintings are intriguing is because the parts that are rendered well are done really well. I have to make sure the parts I am painting are done as realistically as possible. This means I have to put in a lot of time to mix the colors perfectly and make sure the paintings are as good as I can make them.” Delia began working on her portfolio over the summer. She has been working tirelessly on her paintings, balancing her AP Art pieces with homework and college applications. Delia said, “It’s a struggle to space
out enough time especially with homework in all other classes. But having homework in art can be a nice break from math homework or history readings, because I get to immerse myself in something I love and forget about all my other work for a while.” Despite battling time constraints, Delia has created seven concentration works. With the seven
concentration paintings remaining Delia plans on trying to add more dimensionality to her collection through orienting her subjects in unique ways. The work of all the AP Art students will be displayed in the art showcase in early May. Until then, Delia’s pieces and all the work done by AP artists can be seen on display outside of Mr. Cice’s art studio.
Photo courtesy of Delia Tager The pieces in Delia’s concentration depict family and friends, including senior Elon Middleton as shown above. One piece also feature a self-portrait.
Alumna Erin Jung Discusses Art After Hackley By Bailey Griffen
Walking by the Upper School art room it is hard not to admire the creative pieces that adorn the wall, providing tiny glimpses into the creative minds of members of the student body. These students are often celebrated and expected to find continual success upon
Photo by Lei Anne Rabeje Erin’s concentration highlighted geometric shapes projected on figure paintings.
graduation but nobody really knows what becomes of these talents upon graduation, and how these already talented artists continue to evolve. To remedy this, The Dial spoke to former art student Erin Jung ‘16 who continues to pursue her artistic passions as a college student. Erin initially thought she wanted to place herself in an environment filled with people devoted to the arts, beginning her undergraduate work as a student at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. However, she realized that a balance between art and other subjects of interest is when she most flourished - a realization which took her to NYU, where she is a film and television major. “The biggest difference between Pratt and NYU is that I get to study things outside of art. For example, I’m learning other things like web design, scriptwriting, and business,” said Erin. “Pratt didn’t have any of this. [Their courses mostly consisted of ] color, graphic design, drawing, and industrial design classes.” She notes this is important to keep in mind for current artists debating between attending an art or liberal arts school. Erin believes the key to a successful collegiate art career is good time management - something which her Hackley education helped her with. “The concentration at Hackley helped me stick to work schedules in college while others burnt out quickly.” She attributes this, as well as the demanding AP art curriculum and the teachers who supported her through it to part of the reason she was considered to be above average at Pratt, and able to excel at her assignments.
However, her colorful portraits have evolved into a focus on animation and film at NYU. She explains that her classes, typical of college art classes, comprise of a combination of studio hours and lecture. These usually last six hours and are dedicated to completing a given assignment or project based around a specific theme. She considers this one of the best, but
also one of the hardest, parts of the transition from high school to college art. “The most surprising thing between high school and college is probably the amount of work you have to put in. You need to put in three to eight hours of independent work on a project, [but] everything is spread out over months, [and] the best part is having more time,” Erin said.
Photo by Lei Anne Rabeje Erin contributes her success in college studying design to her experience with the arts at Hackley.
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Trump’s differing responses to gun violence attacks
The politics of naming violence: Considering policy implications of Congress’ and Trump’s public statements
By Max Rosenblum
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irst Las Vegas, then New York, then Sutherland Springs. Within just the past two months, three deadly attacks have plagued different states across the nation evoking a variety of responses. In the aftermath of these, reactions from the President and other notable political figures have garnered significant media attention. However, the substance and rhetoric used in these responses have raised the question of how attacks carried out by terrorists of different races are perceived. Trump’s responses to different types of violent attacks represent a pattern as well. When violent attacks have historically been carried out by white men, he has tended to push aside talk of legislation or political action and instead focus on the psyche, mental state, and brutality of the attacks. However, with violence carried out by Muslim attackers, Trump has called out past legislative policies and subsequently fostered conversation for new policies. This pattern preceded his presidency, part of his campaign strategy as seen in his responses to the Orlando and San Bernadino attacks in 2016 and 2015, respectively. The following responses to the three most recent terrorist attacks on American soil provide support for this pattern. On October 1st, a 64-year-old white man named Stephen Paddock shot dead 58 concert goers and wounded 546 attending the Harvest Country Music Festival on the Las Vegas Strip. This attack was the deadliest mass shooting in American history. The morning after the attack, President Trump called the shooting an “act of pure evil.” With this response, he emphasized the gravity of the attack,
while honing in on the likely mental action were in stark contrast to the instability of the shooter in others. President’s more solemn, passive atAfter this preliminary response, he titude following the Las Vegas attack, later disregarded questions from the which was carried out by a white man news media surrounding gun control as opposed to one from a Muslim the following week. For example, majority country. when asked about gun legislation The most recent attack on Novemto rebuke the incident, Trump re- ber 5th consisted of a series of killings sponded, “The police department inside a rural Church in Sutherland has done such an incredible job, and Springs, Texas. The killer was idenwe’ll be talking about gun laws as time tified as a 26-year-old white male goes by.” This attack specifically could named Devin Patrick Kelley, who have necessitated basic gun legislation entered the Church, killed 26 and since the shooter used a device called injured 20. a “bump stock” to Similar to his pasmechanically alter his sive response to the weapons. Instead, it Las Vegas attack, the seems as if Trump’s re- With violence carried New York Times responses focused in on about by Muslim attack- ports that “President the tragedy aspect of ers, Trump has called Trump called the the attack rather than out past legislative poli- shooting a ‘mental any course of action, health problem at which he pushed cies and subsequently the highest level’ and aside – a controver- fostered conversation for not ‘a guns situation,’ sial decision for many new policies compared adding that the gunAmericans. man was a ‘very deto Muslims t the other end ranged individual.’” of the month, He continued that it the October was “an act of evil” 31st attack in Lower Manhattan and a “very sad event.” received a very different, more active Since Trump has delivered such drasresponse from the President. Minutes tically different responses to attacks after 3pm on Halloween afternoon, carried out by white men compared a man identified as Sayfullo Saipov to Muslims, many have speculated as rammed a rented pickup truck down to what his intent, if any, is in doing a bike path killing 8 and injuring so. What we do know is that any type 12. Authorities later discovered the of political action that may change the attacker entered the US from Uzbeki- way we as Americans understand gun stan in 2010. control has failed to prevail and is yet A short time after, the President to come -- and Trump has not played demanded the Department of Home- any significant role in altering gun land Security “step up its already control laws more liberally or more extreme vetting program,” announced conservatively following the attacks that the driver had arrived through of the past two months. Chuck Schumer’s “diversity visa lottery,” which he harshly criticized, and finally called for the use of the death penalty against Saipov. These Illustrations by Olivia Weinberg rather quick responses and calls for and Katherine Lee
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Community Council finds creative ways to raise more funds By Tyler O’Brien
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n the hilltop, Community Council is faced with the daunting task of raising their own funds. Representatives can be found throughout the hallways on any given day, selling raffles tickets to baked goods in an attempt to raise the necessary funds. Be it selling turkey grams or parking spot raffle tickets, Council is tasked with finding creative ways to make money. Without sufficient funds, it may not be able to put together many of the school events and ideas promised. Upper school council funds comes from the community itself. Tenth grade class president Ben Marra explained that all of the money raised goes towards council sponsored events, namely movie nights, Snowball, grade events, and bonfires. According to faculty advisor Mr. McLay, “40 to 50 percent” goes to Snowball, with the rest going to events like Spirit Week, Movie Nights, random giveaways, and grade events. For example, the last Movie Night cost around $180. The Community Council is off to a great start to the year with their fundraising; less than halfway through this school year, they have already raised $1800, $600 more than what was raised the entirety of the year before. Community council received a fundraising boost during the fall, when they received a grant from the HPA to buy a grill for night games. Owning a grill has allowed council to generate more money from the concession stands during games, along with eliminating the cost of grill rentals. Community Council money has two places where they keep the money raised; they have an account that is set up with the school, and keep cash in their cash box in case they needed. These accounts are used to reimburse members of Council when purchase items needed for school events. Mr. McLay is tasked with managing these accounts. He holds the cash box, makes the deposits in the account, and requests checks. Despite what many would think, these tasks do not fall onto the treasurer. The Secretary Treasurer’s duties fall more on the Secretary side, as his primary obligation are maintaining attendance and notes from meetings, and helping with communications.
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December 22, 2017
Students take advantage of Hadi Partovi’s Hour of Code By Sydney Stoller
Hadi Partovi is the co-founder of the nonprofit Code.org, a former employee of Microsoft, and an investor in numerous other start-ups, but one of his lesser known accomplishments is his graduation from Hackley School. Mr. Partovi and his twin and colleague Ali Partovi left the Hilltop in 1990, where he was valedictorian of his class and the recipient of the Stanley Pennock Science Award and the Sherman Book Prize. Despite their leaving more than twenty years ago, the Partovi’s legacy at Hackley lives on through the school’s participation in their Hour of Code event every December. Hadi Partovi traveled a long way to his eventual alma mater Harvard University, from his birthplace in Tehran, Iran. As a child growing up amidst the Iran-Iraq War, Partovi was always intrigued by the intricacies of computer science, although it was not offered at the school that he attended in Iran. He details a major turning point in his life as the day his father brought home a Commodore 64 computer and he taught himself and his twin brother Ali to write code. After moving to the United States and attending Hackley, Partovi realized that computer science is a skill crucial to a student growing up in an age where the role of technology is
Partovi’s Hour of Code initiative has allowed the computer science program to grow at Hackley.
increasing in all professional fields. Partovi reasons that this is a subject just as important as English or History, and should therefore be treated as a mandatory core class. Partovi started his career as an entrepreneur by creating various start-ups over the course of many years. These start-ups consisted of Tellme, a voice recognition software developed in 1999 and sold to Microsoft in 2007, and iLike, a social music discovery website, that was sold to Myspace in 2009. By September 2012, just after iLike was shut down, Partovi re-
called his passion for computer science education and Code.org was born. The current mission statement of the new nonprofit is to increase access to computer science classes in schools around the world, specifically encouraging the involvement of women and underrepresented minorities. One of Code.org’s successes is its worldwide establishment of the annual Hour of Code initiative. The Hour of Code is a one hour introduction that teaches students to celebrate computer science.
Photo by Sydney Stoller
The event takes place every December fourth through tenth and this year was made up of over 106,050 events around the world. December 2017 will mark the fifth annual Hour of Code celebration, as well as the participation of more than 450 million students around the world. Hackley has been an ardent supporter of the Hour of Code initiative ever since its launching in December 2013. In Hour of Code’s only second year, Hadi Partovi and his twin brother and co-founder Ali returned to Hackley to give a
The real cost of applying to college
presentation to middle and upper school students about the importance of computer science. On the Hilltop, everyone from kindergarten to twelfth grade is able and encouraged to be exposed to computer science in one way or another. Lower School students completed Hour of Code activities, like “Code Crazy Creatures” or “Lightbot” during their scheduled computer classes and were paired up with Upper School AP and PostAP computer science students who acted as supplementary teachers to Partovi’s Hour of Code program. Similarly, Middle Schoolers are recommended to visit a computer lab throughout the day where they too will take part in Hour of Code exercises, aided by computer science teachers to advise them. Finally, in addition to mentoring Lower schoolers, advanced computer science students have designed tee shirts celebrating Computer Science Education and Hour of Code. In addition, Tusch adds that, “The field of computer science is one of the fastest growing in the United States, and companies across our economy need employees with computer science skills.” The Hilltop is leading by example and will, with the help of students similar to Partovi, continue to enlarge the computer science program in a world where it is becoming more important than ever.
Test prep, testing fees, college applications, and tuition prove to be a significant burden for some seniors By Lei Anne Rabeje
Weekly hour-long ACT Prep classes, threehour long SAT testing on a Saturday morning, and nights spent mulling over college applications. These are some of the burdens–or privileges– of the ever growing competition in college admissions. Right now, high school juniors and seniors are spending more and more money for a shot at the top colleges: $62.50 for the ACT test with writing, $80 on each college application, $12 to send SAT scores to each college. But this is just the beginning. Applying to college is expensive. Between the costs of test prep, test prep books, SAT or ACT fees, and sending the scores to colleges, the fees continue to rake up. According to a Dial poll, an upper school student spends an average of $1000 to $2500 on test prep tutors and $200 on test prep books. While many begin studying for these tests in the summer between sophomore and junior year, some start earlier, causing the costs to hike up even more. Senior Hanna Mark has been taking test prep classes since 6th grade to apply for Johns Hopkins’ Center for Talented Youth summer program. “I thought that if I could get it done early, then it would be a lot easier and I wouldn’t have to worry about in junior or
senior year,” said Hanna. “It was beneficial in test-taking skills, but it did take a lot of time away from me.” Amongst the biggest burdens of applying to college are standardized testing fees. For some, standardized testing can be a one-and-done deal, but most students take these tests at least two times in hopes of raising their superscore. With the ACT costing $42, or $62.50 with writing, and the SAT costing $46, or $60 with writing, taking the tests multiple times may cause a financial strain. Apart from the financial costs, students also feel that standardized testing is not a proper judgement of one’s academic abilities. In a recent Dial poll, an anonymous commenter said, “Tests themselves only really gauge one’s ability to memorize an excess amount of material, and not show how much they learned.” According to the Dial poll, the combined expense of test prep and testing fees, along with its inability to gauge a student’s full academic ability, have led 42% of the students to disagree that standardized testing is a fair system. An anonymous student commented, “Studies have shown that standardized testing is essentially a measure of one’s socioeconomic class. If you have access to tutoring, which is crazy expensive, but also extremely advanta-
geous, you will have a much greater chance of scoring higher. ” Senior Connor Larson disagrees. “I think that, when viewed in the context of a holistic application, standardized testing is a fair and important assessment for college admissions,” said Connor. “Standardized testing provides a critically important means to objectively and consistently compare applicants. Other measures, primarily GPA, are highly variable; the same work might earn an A- from one teacher, but only a B from another teacher. I don’t think that standardized testing is inherently more classist than the rest of the educational system.” Hackley works to help alleviate some financial burden of applying to college for students who receive financial aid. Through the College Counseling Office, students can apply to receive “[support] in the same proportion that a family may qualify for financial aid outside of and separate from the EC Fund.” In other words, students who receive 50% financial aid can apply to receive 50% back of the money spent. This aid covers a wide range of costs; including, two SAT Subject Test registration fees, application fees for up to ten colleges, and CSS profiles for up to ten colleges.
Graphic by Lei Anne Rabeje
Kathy Fan comes a long way from Shijiazhuang By David Ben-Ezra
For many people, living away from their parents may seem difficult, especially at a young age. Hackley junior Kathy Fan does just this, living in China with her family during summer and winter break, and boarding at Hackley and with a host family on the weekends. Kathy found out about Hackley from her uncle who lives in New York, who said that it was a good school. Kathy had already been interested in going to school in the United States, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity. While Kathy has gotten used to living at Hackley and with her host family, she still
says that both boarding and her host family do not really feel like home. “I love boarding, but it still feels like boarding and not like home, and I feel really comfortable with my host family, but I view them as a host family rather than my actual family. I feel like if I viewed my host family as my home, I would lose my ties to my actual family.” Kathy’s host family is a couple that recently immigrated from China. They have a daughter who goes to graduate school in Italy. While Kathy feels very comfortable with her host family, she says that they do not feel like her actual family. Obviously Chinese culture is very different from American culture. Kathy said, “It’s very
different, I can’t say how different it is. It’s like the difference between an apple and a banana, you can’t compare them.” Even though the cultures are very different, it was not too difficult for Kathy to adjust to Hackley. “It definitely was a transition, but it went away after the first year. I also got used to Hackley by making friends in small groups. First, it was cross country, then it was boarding.” Kathy lives at Hackley and with her host family for most of the year. During winter and summer break, Kathy goes home to spend time with her family. Additionally, her mom comes to visit her during spring break. While it seems unusual for someone to go to school so far away from their home, for Kathy
it’s the norm. “It is annoying to always be so far away from my family, but everyone goes through this at college. I am just experiencing it earlier than everyone else,” she says. It was also a little bit easier for Kathy to adjust to life in New York because she has an aunt and an uncle that both live in New York. When Kathy is in China, she lives in Shijiazhuang, which is about a three-hour drive from Beijing. She says that living in China and the United States is very different and there are advantages and disadvantages to both. “A lot more happens in the US, it is kind of boring back home.” However, Kathy does get homesick, saying, “I miss the food the most.”
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Wrestling takes down gender stereotypes Freshmen girls work hard to improve their skills on the Varsity Wrestling team By Emmy Wenstrup
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n a typically male-dominated sport, this year’s Varsity Wrestling team features three girls: freshmen Lara Schechter, Simone Straus, and Hadassah Henderson. They follow the lead of All-American senior wrestler Demetra Yancopoulos, who unfortunately can’t compete this season due to past injuries. Both Lara and Simone started wrestling in seventh grade at Hackley and have worked during the off-season to improve their skills, hoping to continue into senior year and get all-American status. They both joined the team because they were interested in the sport, but also because they wanted to try something new. “I’m a girl on a typically guys’ sport… going back to breaking down gender stereotypes, it’s cool in that sense,” Schecter said. To be on a typically male team is not as hard as it seems: “I think that people think that it would be very awkward being a girl [competing] with guys, especially in a very physical sport, but I don’t mind it, and one thing I like about the team is they treat me like everyone else, it’s not separated because I’m a girl,” Lara said. “It’s helped me especially in the grand scheme of things to break down gender stereotypes… personally for me but also for other people that I wrestle to show that it doesn’t just have to be a guy in this
Photos by Olivia Weinberg From top left, clockwise Lara Schechter practices her technique with teammate, Alex Crispi. Hadassah Henderson wins her match. Lara Schecter and Simone Straus compete against each other as the only competitors in their weight class. Sometimes the girls don’t get to compete in a match because no one in their weight class is available to wrestle. Competitor parings are based on weight class, not gender
sport girls can do the same things that guys can,” said Lara. As empowering as the team may be, Simone recalls that fans, especially parents, aren’t always as on board with girls wrestling as one would expect: “There was one time
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where I was at a match and I lost and I was upset about it, and this mom screamed at me to get off the mat, that girls are too weak to do it, and… that’s why I lost.” However, this experience only encouraged Simone to work harder:
“It just… enraged me, and yeah I wanted to punch her in the face but it also inspired me to go out there and just wrestle harder and win and show her that that’s not true.” “I think the expectations are lowered a lot, like if I go out there
and even if I’m pinned in ten seconds, people are like ‘oh, good job honey, don’t worry about it,’ and of course they’re trying to be supportive, but if it was a guy I think they’d be so much harsher… [people] expect so much less because I’m a girl.” Hadassah said that though the team is very accepting, it’s harder for the coaches to adjust. “I feel like even though they are very accepting, it takes a bit of time for the coaches to address the group as guys and girls, especially because Coach Stanek has coached an all boys varsity wrestling team for a long time,” she said. Despite her physical disadvantage as a woman, Lara still pushes to succeed: “I’m sure it will be harder as I get older because boys are genetically stronger but I also don’t think that’s a very big disadvantage to a girl in this sport.” However, both Simone and Lara noted their support from the Hackley team. “I honestly think there’s not as much hate on it as you would expect… but of course there are some times when people do not try to hide their dislike for [us],” said Simone. Hadassah added, “I personally don’t find my teammates on my team to be sexist at all. The boys on the wrestling team don’t really care about your gender, but care more about whether you are willing to put the the work to train and become a better wrestler.”
seniors take their athletic abilities to college Senior Liam Bogart officially becomes a Bulldog By Roya Arjommand and Kylie Morrison
Photo courtesy of Liam Bogart Liam Bogart is ready to glide through the next chapter of his life both academically and in the pool.
Senior Onye Ohia-Enyia officially becomes a Tarheel By Roya Arjommand and Kylie Morrison
Starting out on JV Boys Soccer his freshman year, Onye was told he was fast by teammates and coaches. The following season, he participated in JV Boys Basketball, receiving the same compliments. After taking the compliments into consideration, Onye decided to join track, one month into the spring season. Onye believes that track has made him a more productive person: “track helped me learn how to manage my time better in terms of school work.” During the recruitment process, Onye received offers from many schools including Georgetown, UPenn, Cornell, University of Michigan, Texas A&M, and Oregon. Onye explained “If I was very interested in the school, they would fly me out and pay for my food and hotel.” Coaches were eager to recruit Onye, but at first he was indecisive: “I didn’t really know what school I wanted to go to – a track oriented school or an Ivy League.” Visiting schools proved to be exciting and informational. Onye said “I visited Michigan, UNC, Virginia, and UPenn. When I visited, I had a lot of fun, met the guys on the team.
Liam Bogart is committed to Yale University. After five years on Hackley’s swim team, his commitment to swimming has earned him a place at one of the most prestigious colleges in the United States. In college, Liam’s practice schedule will be strict: “I’ll have morning practice four times a week for like two, two-and-ahalf hours and then afternoon practice five times a week.” He went on to emphasize what a large commitment swimming at Yale will be, yet he still looks forward to it. Liam’s attraction to Yale stems from meeting many of his future teammates. He said, “The reason why I like Yale so much was because of the guys on the team, and the girls, I’ve
I got to see the school, the track, and I also got to go to some classes.” With every visit, Onye got closer to making his final decision.“My college counselor told me that I should choose the college that I want to go to because at the end of the day I am going to that college and no one else is going for me,” he said. He credits The University of North Carolina’s “beautiful facilities” for his decision. He said “I feel like they are the best academic and athletic school there is.” However, Onye does admit to also being inspired by famous basketball player, Michael Jordan’s attendance at UNC. His practices will be strict; they start in the morning from 6:00 to 7:00, and in the evening from 6:30 to 7:30, six days a week. Onye knows that his first year will be difficult: “Being a student athlete isn’t easy. Especially in college, it’s a tough task.” However, Onye is immensely confident in his running abilities. Though he will be in line to face many students with similar talents as him, Onye stated, “I’m the one and Onye. I just take every challenge head on and have faith because at the end of the day I’ll give it my all.” Onye believes that UNC can facilitate all of his future goals. He said, “At UNC I can be a champion, a winner. And someday maybe go professional. I’d like to run track for as long as I can.” Onye hopes to bring UNC a Championship title.
just hung out more with the guys, and I liked them so much I made Yale my number one.” He seems excited to spend more time with his team and is adjusting well already. Liam already knows one of the girls that is on the Yale swim team from swimming on Empire with her. He has made countless connections with current recruits and people that are already attending Yale this year. Starting college is a nerve wracking experience for most, but for Liam it is not: “I’m not really nervous, but we’ll see when I get there because I’ve never lived without my parents obviously, and I’ve never been on a swim team other than the one I joined when I was seven. So, I guess I’m kind of nervous to join my new team and see where I fit in. But it’s going to be nice having that immediate friend group.” Liam’s passion and dedication to swimming has not only led him to Yale, a school he is thrilled to attend, but also allowed for him to be a part of a community that is tight knit and make new connections.
Photo by Olivia Weinberg Onye Ohia-Enyia looks to contnue his succesful track career at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.